A's, Yoenis Cespedes seeking ways to end slump

PHOENIX -- After a three-strikeout game against the Giants in Scottsdale Friday night, A's left fielder Yoenis Cespedes came in to the clubhouse Saturday morning and asked for the chance to get some extra at-bats in a minor league game.

The outfield rotation for the A's called for Cespedes to get a day off between the night game and a split-squad doubleheader Sunday. With a .130 average this spring and 11 strikeouts in 49 plate appearances this spring, Cespedes is looking for any way to get untracked.

As has been written here before, he's trying to shorten his swing at the A's suggestion to become more of a line-drive hitter, the club figuring that he's strong enough his power won't suffer any.

During the changeover, however, everything is suffering. His average is the worst among players who will make the A's roster by a staggering 92 points. Worse than that, there is a 137-point gap between Cespedes' .163 spring on-base percentage and the next lowest on the club, Eric Sogard's .300.

"He's frustrated,'' manager Bob Melvin, citing both the poor lighting in Scottsdale Stadium and the long rollout to the change in Cespedes swing for the three Friday strikeouts. "He's frustrated between working on his swing and (not) getting the results (he wants).''

After averaging .292 as a rookie with 23 homers in 2012, Cespedes hit .295 last spring, then got off to a slow start, averaging .198 30 games into the season and never really got cooking, although he did finish with 26 homers. His average peaked twice at .245 and he finished the season at .240.

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The A's have him penciled in for the cleanup hitter's slot once the season starts March 31, arguably the most important in the lineup. So much of the A's success this year will depend on Cespedes getting his groove back.

"He's working on it,'' Melvin said. "And we've still got some time.''

After Sunday's split-squad games — Cespedes is down to face the Mariners in Peoria — Oakland has just six spring training games remaining, so that time is quickly running short.